Columbus snaps up Colombian infrastructure firm

Caribbean and Latin American submarine cable operator and broadband service provider Columbus Communications has announced that its corporate management division Columbus International Inc has purchased Colombian infrastructure operator Lazus from Ashmore Management Company for an undisclosed sum. Lazus operates in ten cities in Colombia, with a fibre network which spans some 3,500km and owns infrastructure in Panama City, Panama and San Jose, Costa Rica. The acquisition represents Columbus’ largest investment in Colombia to date and will allow the group to further enhance its SME-focused ‘Columbus Business Solutions’ (CBS). Commenting on the takeover, Columbus’ chairman and CEO Brendan Paddick, said: ‘The acquisition of Lazus marks yet another important milestone for Columbus as we continue to execute on our focused business plan … Coupling Lazus’ high quality network infrastructure with our CBS suite of services will enable Columbus to deliver next generation, business class telecom services to the rapidly growing business community in Colombia.’